With the Fourth of July holiday upon us, law enforcement will work diligently tonight not just to keep fireworks extinguished under the county-wide burn ban, but to keep drunk drivers off the road.

In conjunction with the Arkansas State Police’s nine-day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative that lasts through Saturday, representatives from the Russellville Police Department (RPD) and the Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) said their agencies will both be stepping up patrols to cut down on drunk driving.

“We’re going to have a larger-than-normal group of patrol officers working this holiday season,” RPD Public Information Officer Drew Latch said. “The biggest thing we’re going to be looking for is drunk drivers. And we’re also going to be out looking for people texting while driving. That’s become a big initiative of ours.”

Latch added the RPD will set up several mobile safety checkpoints, or checkpoints that will stay in one area for a short amount of time before going to another, in an attempt to keep negligent drivers from avoiding law enforcement.

“We’ll be doing kind of rolling checkpoints,” he said. “That way, we’re very mobile and we can move from one spot to another quickly and not have people dodging our safety checkpoints.”

Pope County Sheriff Aaron DuVall said besides increasing patrol on the county’s thoroughfares today, PCSO will also take to the county’s waters to ensure safety of those out enjoying a little fun in the sun.

“The way the weather is, I imagine that’s where people want to be to stay cool, and we want to make sure things don’t get out of hand,” he said. “Hopefully people won’t drink and drive and they’ll stay home and enjoy this time with their family, and just try to stay cool.”

Latch and DuVall both said due to the burn ban, both agencies will work to extinguish any fireworks shot off, citing those who break rules laid out in city and county ordinances.

“It’s a danger right now that can create problems, not only for people shooting them off, but also their neighbors,” DuVall said. “It’s just a dangerous time to be shooting off fireworks or burning anything.”

Fines for shooting off fireworks in the county can range from $50-$500, per county ordinance.

While open flames are prohibited during the burn ban, the Russellville Fire Department released a statement Tuesday stating grilling will be allowed, as long as the outdoor cooking is done in a covered enclosure and not done over an open campfire or pit.

The release also stated several grilling safety tips, such as checking hoses for cracks and replacing as necessary; keeping the grill clean and free of grease; never leave the grill unattended or let unsupervised pets or children near the grill; allow the grill to cool before placing any protective covering on it; have an extinguisher or hose readily available nearby; make sure the grill is flat and at least 10 feet away from the home, fences, sheds or branches; don’t use the grill in an enclosed area; and use the grill on a flat, sturdy, non-combustible surface, such as concrete or patio stones.

The release also stated gas grills should be shut off if its user smells any gaseous odor; check the gas cylinder or pipe for leaks; inspect the propane cylinder for cuts, gouges, dents or rusting and replace as necessary; and to never store propane tanks indoors or near any heat source.